Presentation
Several diners say the dishes look as good as they do in the menu, with especially striking presentation.
Umm Suqeim
BABU Made in Dubai 2018 is an Indian restaurant in Umm Suqeim built around colourful presentation and a modern fusion approach. Reviews point to creative starters such as Kito fries and Dahi puri, alongside a lively, Bollywood-inspired setting.
Source: Google Maps
Several diners say the dishes look as good as they do in the menu, with especially striking presentation.
Starters are a strong choice, with diners praising dishes such as Dahi puri, shrimp and samosas for their distinctive serving style.
The interior combines vibrant artwork, graffiti and truck art with Bollywood music for a distinctly Indian-inspired setting.
Reviews repeatedly describe the staff as welcoming and attentive, with one diner saying they explained dishes and made suggestions around dietary needs.
The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating, useful if you prefer a choice of setting.
Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of BABU Made in Dubai 2018, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
“We ordered a plate that had a bit of everything Biryani, Butter chicken, dal, mutton & Rita! Everything was so good!”
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“We ordered a plate that had a bit of everything Biryani, Butter chicken, dal, mutton & Rita! Everything was so good!”May 2024
“We ordered many delicious side dishes such as alo alo samosa, loaded fries and a chickpea mash they have . We also ordered buttered chicken and naan. It was all exceptionally delicious and i definitely do recommend this place for delicious Indian food!”December 2025
“The food was bland and over sweetened with thick sauces that added little. Biryani and bread and atmosphere was great but everything else was “meh”.”
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“The food was bland and over sweetened with thick sauces that added little. Biryani and bread and atmosphere was great but everything else was “meh”.”June 2024
“Some dishes are excellent such as the Biryani while others where average.”November 2018
“Their kito fries and dynamite shrimps were the best of the lot.”
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“Their kito fries and dynamite shrimps were the best of the lot.”July 2018
“I went yesterday and it was amazing experience i love the food there .. super delicious i wasn’t able to stop eating🤣🤣 We ordered The famous kito fries and Babu cravings …….. even the prices was so good compared with the food .”September 2023
“We ordered many delicious side dishes such as alo alo samosa, loaded fries and a chickpea mash they have . We also ordered buttered chicken and naan. It was all exceptionally delicious and i definitely do recommend this place for delicious Indian food!”
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“We ordered many delicious side dishes such as alo alo samosa, loaded fries and a chickpea mash they have . We also ordered buttered chicken and naan. It was all exceptionally delicious and i definitely do recommend this place for delicious Indian food!”December 2025
“Tried their few varieties like Shrimp Nawabi, Angry chickchesy, Birrionaire, pouletmasala, peach mojiito, Hawaii Mohito all were in high standard.”
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“Tried their few varieties like Shrimp Nawabi, Angry chickchesy, Birrionaire, pouletmasala, peach mojiito, Hawaii Mohito all were in high standard.”August 2021
“I went yesterday and it was amazing experience i love the food there .. super delicious i wasn’t able to stop eating🤣🤣 We ordered The famous kito fries and Babu cravings …….. even the prices was so good compared with the food .”
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“I went yesterday and it was amazing experience i love the food there .. super delicious i wasn’t able to stop eating🤣🤣 We ordered The famous kito fries and Babu cravings …….. even the prices was so good compared with the food .”September 2023
“We had the chicken with peanut sauce and maple glazed mini samosas, bao buns with butter chicken.... Absolutely divine daal makhani...so rich and creamy and mouthwatering chicken tikka!”
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“We had the chicken with peanut sauce and maple glazed mini samosas, bao buns with butter chicken.... Absolutely divine daal makhani...so rich and creamy and mouthwatering chicken tikka!”November 2018
“Tried their few varieties like Shrimp Nawabi, Angry chickchesy, Birrionaire, pouletmasala, peach mojiito, Hawaii Mohito all were in high standard.”
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“Tried their few varieties like Shrimp Nawabi, Angry chickchesy, Birrionaire, pouletmasala, peach mojiito, Hawaii Mohito all were in high standard.”August 2021
“Very delicious food. Ordered Chicken thali and all items were outstanding.”
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“Very delicious food. Ordered Chicken thali and all items were outstanding.”June 2025
“We had the chicken with peanut sauce and maple glazed mini samosas, bao buns with butter chicken.... Absolutely divine daal makhani...so rich and creamy and mouthwatering chicken tikka!”
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“We had the chicken with peanut sauce and maple glazed mini samosas, bao buns with butter chicken.... Absolutely divine daal makhani...so rich and creamy and mouthwatering chicken tikka!”November 2018
“Nice cozy Indian Cuisine, I found it nice place as the diner is simple and creative, we tried Puri, Butter Chicken and Chicken tikka Biryani. Puri and Butter Chicken is good but little over sweet and the Biryani was delicious.”
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“Nice cozy Indian Cuisine, I found it nice place as the diner is simple and creative, we tried Puri, Butter Chicken and Chicken tikka Biryani. Puri and Butter Chicken is good but little over sweet and the Biryani was delicious.”February 2019
“We had the chicken with peanut sauce and maple glazed mini samosas, bao buns with butter chicken.... Absolutely divine daal makhani...so rich and creamy and mouthwatering chicken tikka!”
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“We had the chicken with peanut sauce and maple glazed mini samosas, bao buns with butter chicken.... Absolutely divine daal makhani...so rich and creamy and mouthwatering chicken tikka!”November 2018
“We ordered many delicious side dishes such as alo alo samosa, loaded fries and a chickpea mash they have . We also ordered buttered chicken and naan. It was all exceptionally delicious and i definitely do recommend this place for delicious Indian food!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered many delicious side dishes such as alo alo samosa, loaded fries and a chickpea mash they have . We also ordered buttered chicken and naan. It was all exceptionally delicious and i definitely do recommend this place for delicious Indian food!”December 2025
“Wao really delicious specially Dahi puri, shrimps , samosa how they serve literally awesome and differently then other places....”
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“Wao really delicious specially Dahi puri, shrimps , samosa how they serve literally awesome and differently then other places....”August 2022
“Their kito fries and dynamite shrimps were the best of the lot.”
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“Their kito fries and dynamite shrimps were the best of the lot.”July 2018
“so, I highly recommend going and if your up to it take the faberge egg dessert (best to share)”
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“so, I highly recommend going and if your up to it take the faberge egg dessert (best to share)”January 2022
“Tried their few varieties like Shrimp Nawabi, Angry chickchesy, Birrionaire, pouletmasala, peach mojiito, Hawaii Mohito all were in high standard.”
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“Tried their few varieties like Shrimp Nawabi, Angry chickchesy, Birrionaire, pouletmasala, peach mojiito, Hawaii Mohito all were in high standard.”August 2021
“1- food is great, you MUST try the mango tango (picture) and kolkata wings which is a bit spicy (the second picture”
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“1- food is great, you MUST try the mango tango (picture) and kolkata wings which is a bit spicy (the second picture”January 2019
“We ordered many delicious side dishes such as alo alo samosa, loaded fries and a chickpea mash they have . We also ordered buttered chicken and naan. It was all exceptionally delicious and i definitely do recommend this place for delicious Indian food!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered many delicious side dishes such as alo alo samosa, loaded fries and a chickpea mash they have . We also ordered buttered chicken and naan. It was all exceptionally delicious and i definitely do recommend this place for delicious Indian food!”December 2025
“Very nice Mango Lassi with cardamom !”
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“Very nice Mango Lassi with cardamom !”September 2021
“1- food is great, you MUST try the mango tango (picture) and kolkata wings which is a bit spicy (the second picture”
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“1- food is great, you MUST try the mango tango (picture) and kolkata wings which is a bit spicy (the second picture”January 2019
“We had the chicken with peanut sauce and maple glazed mini samosas, bao buns with butter chicken.... Absolutely divine daal makhani...so rich and creamy and mouthwatering chicken tikka!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had the chicken with peanut sauce and maple glazed mini samosas, bao buns with butter chicken.... Absolutely divine daal makhani...so rich and creamy and mouthwatering chicken tikka!”November 2018
“The food was delicious, friendly staff... I loved the shrimp risotto & the Mashroom Truffles... Celebrated my birthday 🎂 with Rasmalai Cake & they wrote my name Wrong 😂😂😂 Zero instead of Zezo”
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Review excerpts
“The food was delicious, friendly staff... I loved the shrimp risotto & the Mashroom Truffles... Celebrated my birthday 🎂 with Rasmalai Cake & they wrote my name Wrong 😂😂😂 Zero instead of Zezo”January 2019
“The second appetiser that we ordered was Mumbai dynamite shrimp, which looked gorgeous and tasted okay, it was a bit too sweet for my palate but it was crispy and the portions size was ok too coz the top part is only the shrimps the bottom part is filled with some kinds papdi fritters which was not going along with the shrimp!”
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Review excerpts
“The second appetiser that we ordered was Mumbai dynamite shrimp, which looked gorgeous and tasted okay, it was a bit too sweet for my palate but it was crispy and the portions size was ok too coz the top part is only the shrimps the bottom part is filled with some kinds papdi fritters which was not going along with the shrimp!”October 2020
“We ordered many delicious side dishes such as alo alo samosa, loaded fries and a chickpea mash they have . We also ordered buttered chicken and naan. It was all exceptionally delicious and i definitely do recommend this place for delicious Indian food!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered many delicious side dishes such as alo alo samosa, loaded fries and a chickpea mash they have . We also ordered buttered chicken and naan. It was all exceptionally delicious and i definitely do recommend this place for delicious Indian food!”December 2025
“Tried their few varieties like Shrimp Nawabi, Angry chickchesy, Birrionaire, pouletmasala, peach mojiito, Hawaii Mohito all were in high standard.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Tried their few varieties like Shrimp Nawabi, Angry chickchesy, Birrionaire, pouletmasala, peach mojiito, Hawaii Mohito all were in high standard.”August 2021
“Tried their few varieties like Shrimp Nawabi, Angry chickchesy, Birrionaire, pouletmasala, peach mojiito, Hawaii Mohito all were in high standard.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Tried their few varieties like Shrimp Nawabi, Angry chickchesy, Birrionaire, pouletmasala, peach mojiito, Hawaii Mohito all were in high standard.”August 2021
“Puri and Butter Chicken is good but little over sweet and the Biryani was delicious.”
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Review excerpts
“Puri and Butter Chicken is good but little over sweet and the Biryani was delicious.”February 2019
“We were offered a Rasmalai Cake as compensation for the lack of care as to what actually went into one our mains. Just for the Rasmalai Cake I'd give it 2 stars.”
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“We were offered a Rasmalai Cake as compensation for the lack of care as to what actually went into one our mains. Just for the Rasmalai Cake I'd give it 2 stars.”April 2018
“the menu is also quite special covering some fusion elements such as Safran risotto with beef strips. Meat was tender and pure.”
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“the menu is also quite special covering some fusion elements such as Safran risotto with beef strips. Meat was tender and pure.”January 2022
“The food was amazing and the place is nice. They have both indoor and outdoor seatings. We ordered risotto and short ribs.”
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Review excerpts
“The food was amazing and the place is nice. They have both indoor and outdoor seatings. We ordered risotto and short ribs.”December 2022
“Tried their few varieties like Shrimp Nawabi, Angry chickchesy, Birrionaire, pouletmasala, peach mojiito, Hawaii Mohito all were in high standard.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Tried their few varieties like Shrimp Nawabi, Angry chickchesy, Birrionaire, pouletmasala, peach mojiito, Hawaii Mohito all were in high standard.”August 2021
“The food was delicious, friendly staff... I loved the shrimp risotto & the Mashroom Truffles... Celebrated my birthday 🎂 with Rasmalai Cake & they wrote my name Wrong 😂😂😂 Zero instead of Zezo”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food was delicious, friendly staff... I loved the shrimp risotto & the Mashroom Truffles... Celebrated my birthday 🎂 with Rasmalai Cake & they wrote my name Wrong 😂😂😂 Zero instead of Zezo”January 2019
“The nans and the tandoori roti were ok and they saved our stomachs from going into a malnutrition stage on a night out after a few drinks.”
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“The nans and the tandoori roti were ok and they saved our stomachs from going into a malnutrition stage on a night out after a few drinks.”October 2024
Mixed feedback
“We had the chicken with peanut sauce and maple glazed mini samosas, bao buns with butter chicken.... Absolutely divine daal makhani...so rich and creamy and mouthwatering chicken tikka!”
Positive 1Negative 1
Review excerpts
“We had the chicken with peanut sauce and maple glazed mini samosas, bao buns with butter chicken.... Absolutely divine daal makhani...so rich and creamy and mouthwatering chicken tikka!”November 2018
Mixed feedback
“The mojitos they have are SO GOOD but very sweet.”
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Review excerpts
“The mojitos they have are SO GOOD but very sweet.”August 2021
“I don’t recommend it at all the food doesn’t taste as Indian food , No patata at all the tu don’t do . Biyani but with tikka !!!! And the displayed food in the pic was ok but not tasty .”
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Critical review excerpts
“I don’t recommend it at all the food doesn’t taste as Indian food , No patata at all the tu don’t do . Biyani but with tikka !!!! And the displayed food in the pic was ok but not tasty .”August 2023
Book Ahead. Book ahead or arrive expecting a wait: one review mentioned waiting at least 45 minutes for a table.
Share Starters. Pace your order when trying Kito fries or other rich starters; one portion was too heavy to leave room for mains.
Check Spice. Confirm the spice level clearly when ordering, as one diner received a mild dish after requesting spicy butter chicken.
Expect Sweetness. If ordering mojitos, expect plenty of sweetness; a review specifically noted that they were very sweet.
Vegetarian Choice. Vegetarians should check the menu first: one review found only one vegetarian main course available.
Order in Stages. If you want a standard-paced dinner, order appetisers and mains separately because one diner found the food arrived very quickly.
Plan the visit
Some diners found dishes bland, overly sweet or unlike traditional Indian food, while others found them excellent.
The dining room is repeatedly described as small, and some guests found it crowded or unsuitable for a long night out.
Several reviews consider the pricing high for Indian food, even when portions or presentation softened the criticism.
One visit reported slow service, while another found the main course cooled faster than expected.
Parking may be difficult, particularly when the compact restaurant is busy.
The Bottom Line
BABU Made in Dubai 2018 is an Indian restaurant in Umm Suqeim aimed at diners who enjoy familiar flavours presented with a modern twist. You can explore creative starters such as Kito fries, Dahi puri and Mumbai dynamite shrimp, then move on to dishes including butter chicken, biryani or chicken thali. The menu also reaches beyond conventional Indian formats: one review mentions saffron risotto with beef strips.
The setting is a major part of the visit. Expect a compact, colourful room with truck art, graffiti, Bollywood music and eye-catching plating; indoor and outdoor seating are available. Service is often described as warm and attentive, and staff have been praised for explaining dishes and making suggestions.
The food is not completely consistent. Some diners call it outstanding, while others found it bland, overly sweet or too far from traditional Indian cooking. Butter chicken and biryani receive both praise and sharp criticism.
Portions can be generous, but rich starters may fill the table quickly. Pricing is commonly described as high for Indian food, parking is limited, and the small dining room can feel crowded. Book ahead at busy times, and consider ordering starters and mains separately if you prefer a slower meal.